In Tajikistan, mobile internet is expected to rise twice in cost and price of NGN is expected to rise tenfold.  The Antimonopoly Agency has ordered mobile phone operators to set the price for one Mb of Internet at no less than 0.05 somoni and the price for one minute of international call, including NGN communications, at no less than 1.00 somoni (taxes not included).

The Antimonopoly Agency issued the order on March 4, 2019 and it will take effect on March 27, 2019.  

Current price for one gigabyte of mobile Internet is 30-35 somoni and it will rise to 62 somoni (18% VAT and 5% excise tax included) on March 27.  

Meanwhile, Tajikistan’s internet continues to get slower, ranking among the worst in the world.  Beginning from last year, all Internet traffic is required to pass through the infrastructure owned by the state-run telecommunications company, Tojiktelecom.

Internet service providers (ISPs) in Tajikistan say they now receive Internet from Tojiktelecom at the rate of 51,000 U.S. dollars per gigabit (VAT not included).  

For comparison, Tajik ISPs had earlier received Internet from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan at the rate ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 U.S. dollars per gigabit.